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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Training the next generation of researchers in exploring cloud dynamics and microphysics using millimeter-wavelength radars

Millimeter-wavelength radars, with their ability to collect observations and high spatiotemporal resolution, have become cornerstone instruments for investigating cloud and precipitation microphysics and dynamics in the last two decades. Since the1990s the US Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program has invested in mm-wavelength radar technology progressively adding scanning capability, additional frequencies and polarimetric capability. In addition, atmospheric observatories including those technologies have been operated overseas. Those technologies have enhanced our understanding of cloud and precipitation processes. Only a few universities operate those instruments and use them for educational purposes. The central role of mm- wavelength radars and their role will be further highlighted in the next decade. NASA and other international space agencies are planning to launch millimeter-wavelength (i.e., Ku, Ka, W, G- bands) Doppler radar in space to improve our understanding of cloud and precipitation formation, evolution and their impacts on global climate.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Zero-Emission Transit Bus Needs Assessment

The transition to zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) in public transit has gained traction due to significant federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This needs assessment, commissioned by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and conducted by researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory, explores the current state of electrification in transit agencies, identifying barriers to implementation, potential funding sources, and operational considerations necessary for a successful transition. The assessment involved qualitative interviews with representatives from 19 transit service providers across diverse geographic regions. Key findings highlight the challenges related to bus facilities and operations, which require careful planning for charging infrastructure and maintenance capabilities to accommodate battery electric buses (BEBs) and hydrogen fuel cell buses (HFCBs). Agencies reported operational hurdles due to the shorter range of BEBs compared to diesel buses, necessitating revised scheduling and routing strategies. Despite these challenges, many agencies expressed optimism about their capacity to adapt. Funding availability emerged as a critical factor influencing the transition to ZEVs. While agencies welcomed increased financial support, particularly from the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Lo-No), concerns about the sustainability of this funding and the ongoing operational costs were prevalent. The need for a comprehensive funding inventory was underscored to ensure transit agencies are aware of all available resources. Technological constraints were significant barriers to ZEV adoption. The limited range of BEBs was frequently cited as a concern, leading to operational challenges and reliability issues. Agencies reported difficulties in sourcing replacement parts, which exacerbated downtime and maintenance challenges. Workforce development and training were identified as pivotal for a successful transition. Many agencies rely heavily on manufacturers for technician training, highlighting the need for scalable training programs that equip staff with the necessary skills to maintain electric powertrains effectively. This assessment offers actionable recommendations for the Joint Office, including enhancing outreach to transit agencies, developing resources for effective utility partnerships, and facilitating comprehensive training programs. Establishing a zero-emission bus evaluation program to track performance metrics such as cost, range, and reliability could provide valuable insights for transit agencies. The needs assessment provides a detailed examination of the challenges and opportunities facing transit agencies in their transition to zero-emissions bus fleets. By addressing these issues through targeted support, stakeholders can collaboratively work towards a cleaner, more sustainable public transportation system that benefits all communities.

33 - ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2026

ORNL Report for Hydrolyzed UF 6 Samples 439451, 438792, 439144, 439616, and 439617

Under the auspices of the US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Agency’s Nuclear Reference Material Program (NRMP), the Material Signatures and Isotopic Standards (MSIS) group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory was tasked with analyzing five UF 6 filled P-10 tubes for uranium isotopic composition. This report documents the results of the measurements performed by the MSIS group’s International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission 17025:2017 accredited operating procedure CSD-AM-CIMS-IN20, Determination of Uranium and Plutonium Isotopic Composition using Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry, and in accordance with the quality assurance plan as described in QAP-X-96-CSD/RML-001, Nuclear Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Section Quality Assurance Plan.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2026

Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) Program Support (CRADA Final Report)

Virginia Tech (VT) had previously developed a 50 kW AC to DC power converter that is specifically designed to improve the performance and efficiency of wave energy converters (WECs). Through this CRADA, NLR will test the VT power converter via a coupled dynamometer and power electronics test platform. The NLR test platform will be comprised of (1) a rotary dynamometer that will drive a VT provided gearbox and generator, (2) one or more DC regenerative power supplies that provide input power to and take power from the VT supplied power electronics, and (3) a data acquisition system for measurement. NLR will work with VT to develop a test plan, set up the test platform and integrate the test article, perform the testing, and assist in the data analysis.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cost Benefit Analysis of Solar PV for the City of Oldsmar, FL

The City of Oldsmar is in the early stages of exploring renewable energy opportunities as a part of their initiative to reduce energy costs, improve backup power capacity, and begin the transition to more sustainable operations. The city is particularly interested in deploying a floating or ground-mounted solar PV system at its wastewater treatment plant. Currently, there are no solar PV installations in Oldsmar and there has been hesitancy to implement such a project due to the possible capital costs and limited technical capacity. Despite this the initiative has gained internal buy-in among staff working for the city. To assist with gaining more buy-in and making future decisions the city sought technical assistance (TA) from the Energy to Communities (E2C) Expert Match Program. Through the Expert Match Program, the city received TA provided by the Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) to evaluate the cost effectiveness of several solar options. This report details the analysis and results of the work performed for TA.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition

The Solar District Cup is a multidisciplinary collegiate competition that challenges student teams to design and model standalone solar and solar-plus-storage systems for multiple buildings on a local electrical distribution network, such as a college campus, across a development, or in a district. Students learn cross-cutting skills that prepare them to become part of the next generation of the distributed energy workforce. Student teams act as renewable energy developers proposing to solar and solar-plus-storage system requests. Students, faculty, and prospective employers can benefit from knowing about this program and what students learn--either immediately as participants, mentors, or judges, or as potential employers of Solar District Cup alumni. RE+ is also one of our competition partners.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

New Advances in Optical Stochastic Cooling

Recently, Optical Stochastic Cooling (OSC) became the first demonstrated method for ultra-high-bandwidth stochastic cooling. The initial experiments at Fermilab’s IOTA ring explored the essential physics of the method and demonstrated cooling, heating and manipulation of beams and single particles. Having been validated in practice, with continued development, OSC carries the potential for dramatic advances in the state-of-the-art performance and flexibility for beam cooling and control. The ongoing program at Fermilab is now focused on the development of an OSC system that includes high-gain optical amplification, which promises a two-order-of-magnitude increase in the strength of the OSC force. In this talk, we briefly review the results of the initial experimental campaign, describe the status of the conceptual and hardware designs for the amplified OSC system, report initial experimental results of our high-gain amplifier development, and explore near-term operational plans and use cases.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Future Polarized Target Program at Jefferson Lab

Polarized targets have played a crucial role in Jefferson Lab's exploration of nuclear structure over the past four decades. The three original experimental halls have seen 19 separate installations of polarized solid or gas targets for use in the particle physics scattering experiments, and this trend will continue in the next decade. Five polarized target systems are in preparation for use at JLab in the coming years. Hall B will see the use of two solid polarized targets, one longitudinally polarized to the beam, the other transversely, as well as a novel 3He gas polarized target. In Hall C, new experiments will augment the tensor polarization in dynamically polarized solids. Plans are under development to bring a polarized solid target to Jefferson Lab's photon beam hall, Hall D, for the first time. To support these efforts, the JLab polarized target group is building a test laboratory to develop dynamic nuclear polarization techniques, as well as an apparatus to irradiate target material using electrons from JLab's injector test facility. In this talk, we will explore the development progress and plans for each of these efforts.

Maxwell, James [Thomas Jefferson National Accelera↗
DOE OSTI2026

Transmission for Tribal Nations

A presentation about the Tribal Nation Transmission Program and an overview of transmission generally for attendees of the Seminole Annual Conference.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Complete Degradation of Be 2 C at Conditions Expected in Molten Salt Environments

This technical report is in submission of completion of the Level 3 milestone number M3AT24OR1101032, titled “Complete Degradation of Be 2 C at conditions expected in molten salt environments,” for the AT-24OR110103 “Beryllium Carbide as moderator for MSRs—ORNL” WBS number 2.04.11.01 within the larger Advanced Reactor Technologies program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This effort is an initial study of the viability of Be 2 C as a future neutron moderator for molten salt reactors and other high-temperature reactors. The research was awarded funding in September 2022, and this Level 2 milestone presents the work that completed by the end of July 2023. This work is a collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Michigan. This report discusses the status of this effort and planned work before the final reporting.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Clean Energy Deployment Baseline for the Energy Community and Low-Income Tax Credit Bonuses [Slides]

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 introduced, for the first time, place-based federal tax incentives for projects sited in “Energy Communities,” potentially changing the economic calculus of where projects are best sited. Storage projects can qualify for a 10-percentage-point bonus to the Investment Tax Credit (e.g., from 30% to 40%), while wind and solar projects may qualify for either the ITC bonus or a 10% bonus to the Production Tax Credit (e.g., from $\$27.5$ to $\$30.25$/MWh). Energy Communities are areas with historical ties to fossil fuel industries and above average unemployment levels (FFEU), with closed coal mines or power plants, or contaminated properties. They seek to identify locations across the US that could especially benefit from economic revitalization. This report explores how the new federal tax credit incentives are impacting clean energy deployment patterns and establishes historical baselines against which future changes can be compared. We include a few case studies of clean energy projects going specifically to areas that were recently impacted by coal power plant closures to provide concrete examples of investments in Energy Communities. However, this publication does not assess how much of the incentive benefits pass from clean energy developers to hosting communities, nor does it offer a comprehensive view of the economic effects of clean energy deployment on Energy Communities. Key highlights include: - As clean energy projects take multiple years to conceptualize and develop, it is likely too early to see shifts towards Energy Community locations either among newly built projects or those that entered interconnection queues in 2023. - Approximately 35% of onshore wind, 50% of solar, and 60% of storage capacity built in 2023 and the first half of 2024 are located in Energy Communities, making them likely eligible for bonus incentives. While these bonus incentives were not available to projects coming online before 2023, we used 2023 Energy Community definitions to classify whether past projects were built in what is now considered an Energy Community. The deployment levels for 2023-2024 are similar to recent years (2020-2022) for solar and storage but slightly lower for wind. - Clean energy capacity has surged in the interconnection queues over the last few years, with about 45-50% of both recently proposed and total queued capacity being located in Energy Communities. While the amount of capacity in Energy Communities has also grown, its relative share is either stable (solar and storage) or slightly lower (wind) among projects that entered the queue in 2023. - Clean energy projects can be built at lower costs in Energy Communities. The levelized cost of energy after incentives was on average $\$9$/MWh (24%) lower for solar projects and $\$2$/MWh (6%) lower for wind projects built in 2023, relative to projects not located in Energy Communities. Wholesale electricity values at Energy Community locations relative to the rest of the market vary by region. The average value was often higher for wind projects (-$\$3$ to $\$11$/MWh) but lower for solar projects (-$\$6$ to 0/MWh). - Distributed solar that is owned by commercial entities is eligible for the Energy Community bonus and also, potentially, a Low-Income Community bonus. Residential solar installations in qualifying Energy Communities that are third-party owned represent about 10% of the total residential market. Larger commercial and industrial solar installations in Energy Communities make up 17% of the total market in 2023. Nearly 2 GW of distributed solar was built in areas qualifying as Low-Income Communities in 2023, exceeding the available annual program cap of 700 MW. Continued tracking of these trends will be important for system planners, investors, and local communities.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Completion document for MRT 8824 - Upgrade NIF’s gaseous radiochemistry diagnostics (RAGS) to support weapons science

This milestone highlights the successful upgrade and deployment of the Radiochemical Analysis of Gaseous Samples (RAGS) system, which delivers high-quality measurements (<20% uncertainty) of activated gaseous species from NIF implosions. These measurements are critical for supporting Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) relevant platforms, including LANL’s Double Shell and LLNL’s Pushered Single Shell campaigns. The RAGS diagnostic technique enables analysis of short-range mixing in implosions using high-Z shells, which are otherwise inaccessible to conventional x-ray diagnostic methods. By facilitating the investigation of high-Z material mixing into fusion burn, this system provides essential data for quantifying and interpreting results in high-energy density (HED) experiments. This report details the physics motivation, diagnostic fundamentals, planned and enacted upgrade work, and the quantification of uncertainty for the upgraded system.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2026

Demand response event simulator and risk-aware bidding tool for industrial customers

Incentive Based Demand Response (IBDR) program participation delivers financial benefits to the consumers and resiliency benefits to the electricity grid. Effectively participating in these programs as an industrial consumer requires bidding strategies that balance financial risk with operational constraints. Existing bidding tools tend not to fully incorporate stochastic IBDR event modeling, program specific baseline and payment/penalty calculations, or demand reduction process control schemes that account for the cascading impacts of shutdown in complex facilities. Here, this work presents an IBDR event simulator and risk-aware bidding framework tool integrating three key components: a flexible, parameterized demand response event generator that rigorously accounts for program structures and stochasticity, a demand response operational simulation model that generates explicit control strategies for load reduction, and a Monte Carlo simulator to evaluate financial risk for varied capacity bids. A case study at a wastewater treatment plant participating in PG&E's Capacity Bidding Program demonstrates the framework's utility. In the peak capacity price month of August, optimal bidding by the wastewater treatment plant nets a mean IBDR benefit of $101,000 (67% of the August electricity bill) with 0.4% probability of a financial loss. This framework enables industrial operators to make informed bidding decisions, negotiate better program terms with demand response load aggregators, and analyze energy flexibility investments at their facilities. Ultimately, this work reduces participation barriers in IBDR programs and supports the broader goal of enhancing grid reliability and renewable energy integration.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Charpy Impact Characterization of Surveillance Specimens Harvested from Palisades High Fluence A-60 Capsule

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station (PNGS) was a nuclear power plant that operated in Covert Township, Michigan. The plant had a single pressurized water reactor that produced electricity for the region. The PNGS was shut down in 2022 after more than four decades of service. The PNGS included in its surveillance program a surveillance capsule, designated A-60, containing specimens of a weld metal with nickel content of about 1.36 wt% and copper content of about 0.25 wt%. The capsule was removed from its surveillance position in early 1995 and has been resident in the spent fuel pool since that time. This capsule was irradiated to a fluence of 1.96×10 20 n/cm 2 (E>1MeV) that is equivalent for more than 150 effective full power years (EFPYs) for the US reactor pressure vessel (RPV) fleet. The material is also of special interest because of its very high nickel content and potential for development of NiMnSi (nickel-manganese-silicon) precipitates. Combination of very high fluence and very high Ni and Cu content makes the material in this capsule of great interest as benchmark for currently developing embrittlement trend curves (ETC) aiming to predict embrittlement at high fluences. Multi-year efforts by the Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program personnel from the Materials Research Pathway (MRP) to harvest this capsule finally succeeded in 2023. As a result, the Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) through contract with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) came to PNGS site, retrieved the A-60 capsule, brought it to WEC Churchill hot cell facility, opened the capsule and sent all surveillance specimens in the capsule to ORNL for future characterization by July 2023. Total of 9 tensile and 48 Charpy specimens were inventoried in the ORNL hot cells. Testing plan has been developed based on available specimens. It includes hardness, tensile, Charpy impact, Mini-CT fracture toughness testing, in-situ thermal annealing, and microstructural characterization, including Atom Probe Tomography (APT). Charpy impact testing has been completed and results are presented in this report. Moreover, negotiations with Pressurized Water Reactors Owners Group (PWROG) and Westinghouse resulted in Westinghouse donating to ORNL a piece of archive weld and base metal such that unirradiated characterization of these materials can be performed as part of this project. Comparison of measured hardening and embrittlement has been performed and data are compared to available large database.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2026

Winter 2026 Solar and Storage Industry Update

Each quarter, the Nationa Laboratory of the Rockies conducts the Quarterly Solar Industry Update, a presentation of technical trends within the solar industry. Each presentation focuses on global and U.S. supply and demand, module and system price, investment trends and business models, and updates on U.S. government programs supporting the solar industry.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Securing Future Energy Supplies: From Renewables to Microreactors

This session will provide insight into how future energy deployments, critical to national-level programs focused on reducing carbon emissions, can be secured-by-design using lessons learned from current energy infrastructure. It will begin with an overview of current threats and risks associated with renewable energy assets and systems, primarily wind and solar, focusing on their control architecture and key system functions for both efficient and safe operations. This talk will then translate the key takeaways from current renewable infrastructure into applications for securing future energy systems, including microreactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), based on planned concepts of operations and control. Microreactors and SMRs are intended to be factory-assembled with commercially available components and deployed in more remote or distributed environments, necessitating centralized control centers, remote monitoring, and offsite maintenance and technical support. All of these factors lead these assets to a security posture and controls more similar to today's renewable energy assets than today's nuclear reactors, which represents a significant shift in mindset for the nuclear industry. This talk will provide justification for this shift as well as a path forward to motivate securing these groundbreaking technologies from the outset of their design and deployment.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mission planning for photogrammetry-based autonomous 3D Mapping of Dams using a commercial UAV

The application of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for conducting inspections of dams represents an innovative approach aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. In this context, this paper presents algorithms for UAV mission design in autonomous dam inspections that include the creation of a 3D map based on photogrammetry. The algorithms were systematically developed to incorporate a comprehensive set of parameters that account for the geometric characteristics of the dam and adhere to photogrammetry specifications. To validate the proposed methodology, we utilized a commercial programmable quadrotor, specifically the Parrot Anafi USA Gov drone, which is equipped with high-quality cameras and can be programmed with the help of a software development kit (SDK) provided by the manufacturer. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of our method, highlighting how the generated maps can be used for hazard detection in the downstream slope of dams.

42 ENGINEERING↗